Sectional floating construction-dock.



Patented Dec. 25, I900.

W. JAMIESUN. SECTIUNAL FLOATING CONSTRUCTION DOCK.

3 Sheets Sheet (No Model.)

IN VE N 70/? No. 664,758. Patented Dec. 25, I900. W. JAMIESON.

SECTIONAL FLOATING CONSTRUCTION DOCK.

Application filed Mar. 13, 1900. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

n l u u n I I n I n I A770 rs No. 664,758. Patented Dec. 25, I900.

W. JAMIESUN.

Application filed Mar. 13, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shaet 3,

N R s Q WITNESSES. MlVfNTO/i i fi M "m: Ncams PETFRS cu. Pnoruumo.wxsnmorou, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFF E.

WALTER JAMIESON, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

SE CTIONAL FLOATING CONSTRUCTION-DOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,758, dated December25, 1900.

Application filed March 13, 1900- Serial No. 8,454. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 'nttty concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER JAMIESON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the cit of New York, borough of Brooklyn, State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional FloatingConstruction-Docks, of which the following is a specification.

In building vessels it was heretofore necessary to construct a cradleunder them to fit the ways for launching them when they were completed.The launching was always attended with considerable danger of accident,and efforts have been made to change this method of building vessels,but Without success. Besides, the cradle had to be practically destroyedaft-er each launching, causing a considerable item of expense. Anotherdisadvantage of the method heretofore in use was that the level, one ofthe most useful, time-saving, and accurate tools, could not be used inlaying out the lines of the hull and inthe construction of the interiorframework of the vessel, necessitating other means of accomplishing thisresult.

The object of my invention is to dispense with the stocks, ways, cradle,and inclined plane and substitute in place thereof a floatingconstruction-dock which by the aid of its water-ballasted pontoons canat all times be kept absolutely level and from which the vessel can betransferred directly, when completed in the dock, to the water by simplylowering the dock; further, that the material required in theconstruction of the vessel can be readily transferred from thestationary dock along which the floating dock is anchored, so that thelarge shipyards with sloping shores can be dispensed with.

The invention consists of a sectional floatingconstruction-dockcomprising water-tight bow, midship and stern pontoons, a plurality ofhollow buoying-columns extending upwardly from said pontoons, near thecorners of the same, and means for locking said pontoons together.

The invention consists, further, of an individual pontoon provided at ornear the corners with buoying-columns, and, further, in certain detailsof construction hereinafter fully described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved sectional floating construction-dock, showing the hullofavessel built in the same. Fig.2 is a pontoons,taken from the inside.Fig.5 is a per- I spective view of an intermediate or midship pontoon.Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section through one of the hollow columns,showing the supporting-bracket. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectionof a midship. pontoon; and Fig. 7 is ahorizontal section of the same online 7 '7, Fig. 6.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My improved sectional floating construction-dock is composed of a bowpontoon A, stern pontoon B, and a number of intermediate or midshippontoons C. The midship pontoons O are of equal length, but increasegradually in width according to the increasing width of the hull of thevessel to be built in the dock. They are preferably construct ed ofsteel plates connected by frames and angle-irons, each pontoon formingan entirelyclosed water-tig ht structure that floats easily in thewater. The pontoons 0 next adjacent the bow and stern sections areprovided with curved diverging-walls, while all the remaining midshippontoons are made of full width, with the end walls of the interior andexterior shells at right angles to the end, bottom, and top walls. Thebow and stern pontoons are provided with converging side walls, as shownin Figs. 3 and 4', respectively; The side walls of all the pontoons areprovided with upright hollow columns, which are of sufficient height tocorrespond approximately to the height of the vessel to be built in thedock.

The bow, midship, and stern pontoons are pierced at certain points bythe pipes leading to the pumps. The compartments or bulkheads in thebottom of the pontoons form a water-ballasted bottom by which either asingle pontoon or the entire dock can be kept at the proper level. Avertical suction-pipe Z) is arranged near the outer Wall of eachpontoon, said suction pipe being connected by valved pipes b with eachcompartment, as shown in Fig. 6. The suction-pipe b of each pontoon isfurther connected by a lift-pipe cl with a suitable pump, said lift-pipebeing provided with a stopcock, (not shown,) so that the water can bepumped out of any compartment, likewise any water which has; acecumulated in the inner shell of the pontoons.

The power required for the pumps, cranes, 850., can be procured from thevessels docked or from the stationary dock, the pumps being located inthe pontoons. As there is no large space for water in the dock, smallsteam or electric pumps will clear in a short time all the water frombetween the hull and the dock or from the compartments in the pontoons.Each pontoon is further provided at opposite sides, near the corners ofthe pontoon, with upright columns D, said columns D being madeofsquarecross-se ction and stiffened" in the same manner as the innerand outer walls of the pontoons. The inner and outer walls of thecolumns are made either integral with the inner and. outer Walls of' thepontoons or they are connected thereto by means of suitablereinforcing-braces. Every second column D is provided with a series ofrungs 1- at one side, so as to permit the ready ascending to and anddescending from the tops of the columns, which are provided with suit--able sockets s for inserting a hoisting-craneE. The hoisting-cranes Eserve for raising and lowering the material required in the constructionof the vessel. The upright columns D serve, furthermore, for the supportof the adjustable brackets D, on which the platforms D used in theconstruction of the vessel are placed. The inner wall of each column isprovided with equidistant depressions 0, which are engaged byprojections 0 of the brackets, so as to lock them in position on thecolumns.

The abutting walls of the pontoons are preferably provided with plankswhich act in the nature of a packing, .so that when the pontoons arebolted together to form the construction dock the contact of the woodenplanks produces the Water-tight connection of the pontoons. The pontoonsare connected by locking-bolts f, that are inserted into eyeshapedkeepers f on the adjacent walls of the inner shells of the pontoons, asshown clearly in Fig. 5.

A certain quantity of water is allowed to enter into the bottomcompartments of each section, so as to level the sections sufficientlyfor facilitating the connection of the different pontoons. Theconstruction of the vessel is then started, the proper supports beingmade in the same manner as when the vessel is built on land. Thematerial required is transferred by the hoisting-cranes from thestationary dock to the floating dock. When the vessel is completed andready to be launched, the, pontoons are flooded, so that the entire dockis gradually submerged to in thewater.

such a depth that the vessel can be floated The.v consttuction-dock;isthen separated at the center and removed from the vessel. In thismanner a vessel may be constructed entirely on the. floating dock withall her machinery and complete outfit and transferred from the same intothe water without the. least dangerofi damage or acci dent.

The hollow columns D serve as buoyingcolumns, for giving buoyancy tothe. pontoon when the body of the same is submerged. The regulararrangement of the columns near the corners of the pontoon insures thebuoying up evenly of the pontoon, so that the same floats evenly in thewater.

As the dock can be used repeatedly for the construction of any number ofvessels, the 7 expense of supporting frames or cradles is entirely doneaway with, and; thereby the expense of building vesselsmateriallyreduced. Another advantage is that in the construc; tion of'the vesselthe level can be used throughout the entire construction, which not onlyconsisting of water-tight bow, midship and stern pontoons, a pluralityof hollow buoying-columns extending upwardly from said pontoons near thecorners of the'same, and means for locking said pontoons together,substantially as set forth.

2. A floating construction-dock pontoon, provided near each of thecorners of the same with an upright hollow buoying-column, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a floating sectional construction-dock, the combination, with awater-tight pontoon, composed ofan exterior and an interior, shell, andupright hollow columns at opposite sides of the pontoon,of sockets inthe'tops of said columns, and hoisting-cranes supported in said sockets,substantially as set forth.

4. In afloating sectional construction-dock,

the combination, with a water-tight pontoon formed of an exterior and aninterior shell, 7 and upright hollow columns at opposite sides of thepontoon, of platform-suppo'rtin g brack ets on said columns, and meansfor locking said brackets to said columns, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as; ,7 A

